During the interview, Okonkwo stated, “BAT ignored that GEJ had not done 8 years; he aligned with the North and defeated him.” He made the remark while discussing arguments surrounding power rotation and the fairness of current political calls for zoning ahead of the 2027 presidential election.………
Okonkwo argued that former President Goodluck Jonathan was prevented from completing what many considered a full eight-year tenure, despite the political arrangements often referenced in Nigeria’s power-sharing discussions. According to him, political actors at the time formed alliances across regions in order to defeat Jonathan during the 2015 election.
He further stated that current conversations about zoning should be examined in the context of Nigeria’s political history rather than selective interpretations. The ADC chieftain maintained that political alignments have always played a major role in determining electoral outcomes in the country.
Okonkwo also argued that opposition coalitions remain necessary in modern Nigerian politics, especially when challenging an incumbent government. He said alliances across different regions and political interests were responsible for major electoral victories in previous election cycles and could again shape the outcome of the 2027 race.
The former Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson emphasized that fairness, inclusion, and political balance should remain central to national discussions on leadership and representation. He added that no region should feel permanently excluded from occupying key political offices in the country.
He concluded by urging political leaders to focus on building stronger national unity through cooperation and equitable power-sharing arrangements, noting that sustainable democracy depends on trust, inclusion, and collective participation from all parts of Nigeria.
